Woman who Jumped Off Jetty with Baby Faces Attempted Murder Charges

ATLANTIC COUNTY— An Atlantic City woman was indicted today for the attempted murder of her child last October, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced.

On Wednesday, March 4, 2015, an Atlantic County Grand Jury indicted Patricia A. Shurig, 24, of the 100 block of North Carolina Avenue, Atlantic City for attempted murder, and aggravated assault, for jumping into the ocean from an Atlantic City jetty while holding her one-month infant, in October 2014.

On October 26, 2014, at approximately 5:00 p.m., Atlantic City Police, Fire, emergency medical personnel, and U. S. Coast Guard and NJSP Marine Service Bureau units responded to New Hampshire and Pacific Avenue for a report that a woman had jumped into the ocean off the end of a jetty while holding her baby.

The child and mother were rescued from the water by bystanders—assisted by Coast Guard personnel who had arrived by boat, then transported to the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center—City Campus Trauma Unit, where they were admitted for treatment.

An investigation by the Atlantic City Police Department led to the subsequent arrest of Shurig on the charge of aggravated assault. Shurig was detained on $100,000 full cash bail by Atlantic City Municipal Court Judge Billie Moore. Shurig was subsequently released on bail.

Today, Shurig was indicted for attempted murder—a crime of the 1st degree, and for aggravated assault—a 2nd degree crime.

A conviction for a crime of the 1st degree carries a potential penalty of 10-20 years of incarceration in New Jersey prison; a 2nd degree conviction: 5-10 years in prison.

Assistant Prosecutor Harlee Stein represented the State in the matter.

This charge is merely an accusation and not proof of guilt. In all criminal cases, a charged defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.